Benjamin Flores, a Democrat, is running for Texas land commissioner in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. The Secretary of State’s certified ballot lists Republican Dawn Buckingham and Libertarian Neill Snider as the other candidates.

Flores submitted a Surround Sound Media questionnaire on Oct. 4. Asked why he is running, he wrote: “I am seeking office because I believe the Texas General Land Office should work for everyday Texans, not special interests or political agendas.”

Experience and education

In his questionnaire, Flores described himself as a cybersecurity professional with roughly 30 years of experience in information technology and security. He said his early jobs included work at KFC, a car wash and in hotel information technology.

He said he previously served on the Bay City City Council, working on infrastructure, economic development and city services. “I do not currently hold elected office,” he wrote. He also described agricultural experience through his family’s heritage pig farm.

Flores said he studied geography at a university in Mexico before coming to the United States. He did not name the institution. He said he is continuing studies in cybersecurity and information assurance.

Asked what accomplishments prepare him for the office, Flores wrote: “For nearly 30 years, I have worked in technology and cybersecurity, where protecting critical systems, managing risk, overseeing projects, and solving difficult problems require discipline and accountability.” These background descriptions come from his questionnaire.

Priorities for the office

Flores said in his questionnaire that he wants to protect public lands, support veterans, strengthen the Permanent School Fund, improve disaster recovery and increase transparency. He described his proposed approach as professional management rather than using the office as a political stepping stone.

His campaign website advocates directing funding to public schools and helping districts lower property taxes. It also calls for improving veterans’ home-loan and support services and reducing the travel required to obtain assistance.

On energy, the campaign proposes bringing more solar and wind producers onto state land alongside oil and gas operations. Its disaster-recovery platform calls for stronger coastal protections, better recovery programs and fair distribution of recovery funding. These are his campaign positions.

Responses are based on public data and answers to a Surround Sound Media questionnaire if they were provided.